Expert says Corrib pipeline too close to houses

An independent expert has suggested that the proposed route of the Corrib gas pipeline runs too close to houses and is therefore unacceptable.

Richard Kuprewicz, president of US-based consultants Accufacts, conducted the analysis for the Centre for Public Inquiry (CPI), which released the report this morning.

The Rossport Five, some of whose homes are less than 200 meters from the proposed route of the pipeline.

In his report, Mr Kuprewicz also said that attempts to suggest the Corrib pipeline cannot rupture from internal corrosion "need to be seriously challenged and investigated".

He cited the example of a pipeline explosion at Carlsbad in New Mexico, US, five years ago which killed 12 people. The report notes that the pipeline exploded due to aggressive internal corrosion and those killed were camping at a site more than 200 meters from the pipe.

The houses of many the Rossport Five, who were imprisoned for 94 days earlier this year for contempt of court after orders made following protests over the installation, are less than 200 meters from the proposed route of the pipeline.

Mr Kuprewicz said there appeared to be a form of "Space Shuttle syndrome" behind the eagerness to pursue an onshore refining option. He said there was a "propensity to rush launch at all costs while downplaying or ignoring the very real risks".

He was also critical of the the Quantified Risk Assessment process. "The QRA is inappropriate for this highly unique, first of its kind pipeline as there is no historical data that can be used to evaluate this proposed system".

The report was published by the chairman of the CPI, Mr Justice Feargus Flood in Ballina this morning. A copy is being forwarded to the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Mr Dempsey and other members of the Oireachtas.

The CPI was established in February this year and is funded by Atlantic Philanthropies which has provided €4 million over five years to assist its work.

CPI says it is working to "promote the highest standards of integrity, ethics and accountability across Irish public and business life and to investigate and publicise breaches of those standards where they arise".

In a statement Shell said it would be inappropriate to comment on the report while an independent safety review was carried out on behalf of the minister.

The company said concerns regarding safety of the onshore pipeline will be addressed in the report.